Army Ranger open house victim of budget cuts

Published: Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 07:47 PM.

EGLIN AFB —This year’s open house at the Army Ranger Camp James E. Rudder has been canceled because of federal budget cuts.

The event, which has been held at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion for more than 60 years, usually draws thousands of visitors. It had been scheduled for Saturday.

“We were told not do any type of open house due to funding issues,” said Sgt. 1st Class Cansas Sadler with the 6th Ranger Training Battalion.

He said battalion received word in April.

The Department of Defense is required to cut a large part of its budget by the end of September in a process dubbed sequestration. Many activities not specifically related to the military’s mission have been canceled, including a triathlon at Eglin Air Force Base and the Blue Angels air show in Pensacola.

During the open house, the Army Rangers usually recreate some of the type of training they do at the camp. Soldiers are lowered from helicopters. Snipers emerge from the woods wearing foliage as camouflage and secure a downed aircraft. Soldiers engage in hand-to-hand combat demonstrations.

People of all ages are allowed to fire machine guns armed with blanks. They also can touch snakes and hurl hatchets.

Sadler said the battalion was sad to not be able to hold the event this year, but hopes to resume it in 2014.

EGLIN AFB —This year’s open house at the Army Ranger Camp James E. Rudder has been canceled because of federal budget cuts.

The event, which has been held at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion for more than 60 years, usually draws thousands of visitors. It had been scheduled for Saturday.

“We were told not do any type of open house due to funding issues,” said Sgt. 1st Class Cansas Sadler with the 6th Ranger Training Battalion.

He said battalion received word in April.

The Department of Defense is required to cut a large part of its budget by the end of September in a process dubbed sequestration. Many activities not specifically related to the military’s mission have been canceled, including a triathlon at Eglin Air Force Base and the Blue Angels air show in Pensacola.

During the open house, the Army Rangers usually recreate some of the type of training they do at the camp. Soldiers are lowered from helicopters. Snipers emerge from the woods wearing foliage as camouflage and secure a downed aircraft. Soldiers engage in hand-to-hand combat demonstrations.

People of all ages are allowed to fire machine guns armed with blanks. They also can touch snakes and hurl hatchets.

Sadler said the battalion was sad to not be able to hold the event this year, but hopes to resume it in 2014.